Juan Soto’s $765M Mets Deal Shows Why Reds May Struggle to Sign Elly De La Cruz to Long-Term Deal

De La Cruz led the Reds with an OPS of .810 in 2024.

Greg Kuffner | Dec 12, 2024

Sep 29, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring during the tenth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images / Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

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From the outside looking in you might think Juan Soto's mega deal with the Mets means nothing to the Reds. However, Soto's $765 million deal demonstrates why it might be nearly impossible for the Reds to lock up De La Cruz to a long-term deal.

In 2022, the Nationals offered Soto a 15-year, $440 million deal. He turned it down only to get $765 million from the Mets on the open market just two years later.

Obviously, De La Cruz has the final say and if the Reds offer him a big contract, he can decide to sign it, but it's worth noting that De La Cruz and Soto have the same agent: Scott Boras.

Boras is known for getting his players the most money possible and taking them to free agency.

Has Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall thought about what Soto's deal means for De La Cruz?

“I’m excited that he’s on our team this year,” Krall told Charlie Goldsmith. “We’ll go from there.”

De La Cruz won’t hit free agency until after the 2029 season. While the odds of him signing a long-term extension in Cincinnati may be slim, that shouldn’t stop you from savoring every moment he dons a Reds uniform until then.

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